Travel e-Scapes: September 29, 2015

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DESTINATION & DEAL OF THE DAY: Barbados

Round-trip from Atlanta:
$295 Barbados
Travel any available day of the week
Start trips on or after October 12
Complete travel on or before January 31
Blackout dates: December 23-27, 31; January 1-4
A Saturday night minimum stay required
Valid on Delta, nonstop
Purchase today, September 29
Photo: Reed’s Bay

TRAVEL TIPS & TIDBITS

Try Camping!
If you’ve always wanted to try camping, but weren’t sure how to begin – give the First-Time Camper program a try. You’ll get borrowed gear, expert advice, two nights’ accommodations and more – all for $50 (plus $5 for a Park Pass). Anyone who has never camped in a Georgia State Park may participate. A two-week or more advance reservation is highly recommended.

Georgia park rangers are eager to share their love for camping and the great outdoors. When you arrive, someone will guide you on how to set up camp and provide insider tips. You’ll even get an emergency phone number to call during the night.
The gear provided is from REI and Coleman:
1 Tent that sleeps 6 persons
4 Sleeping Pads
1 Camp Stove with Fuel
4 Roasting Forks
1 Lantern
2 Camp Chairs
Bring along your own sleeping bags, blankets, and pillows.Choose from 13 Georgia State Parks. All campsites have water and electric hookups, picnic tables, grills and campfire pits. Bathrooms and hot showers are within walking distance.
Many park activities are free, such as hiking, geocaching and fishing. Some activities have a fee, such as mini-golf, boat rental or swimming pools. Because the camping gear is borrowed, pets are not allowed in the First-Time Camper Program. But if you love the experience and come back again, your dog can enjoy camping too!REI.com and Coleman.com websites offer lots of helpful expert camping advice.

Speedy Airport Screening
The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has an application site at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport for TSA PreCheck, an expedited screening program that allows travelers to leave on their shoes, light outerwear and belt, keep their laptop in its case and keep 3-1-1 compliant liquids/gels bag in a carry-on bag. U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents go through a pre-enrollment process online at TSA.gov, make an appointment and complete the enrollment at the application center at Gate A19 to verify their identity and provide documentation to confirm their citizenship/immigration status as well as to provide fingerprints. The cost for TSA PreCheck is $85. Certain credit cards, including some American Express cards, reimburse the cost of TSA PreCheck or Global Entry.
Other Customs and Border Protection trusted traveler programs:Global EntrySENTRINEXUS
Costs range from $50 to $122.25.

SPECIAL INTERNATIONAL OFFERS

Airfare offers – ones with a ticket-by date – and deals with our suggestion to ‘Hurry!’ can expire at anytime. Heed Clark’s advice: Buy that great airfare deal – and then figure out a reason to go there! Eventually you’ll see the world at a fraction of the normal price!

One-way from Atlanta, each way:
$177 Cancun
Start travel on or after January 11
Complete travel on or before March 3
Valid Monday-Wednesday, Sunday south; Tuesday-Friday north
Blackout dates: November 20-22, 27-30
Valid on Delta, nonstop
Purchase by October 8

One-way from Atlanta, each way:
$230 Cabo San Lucas-Los Cabos
Start travel on or after January 11
Complete travel on or before March 3
Valid Monday-Wednesday, Sunday south; Tuesday-Friday north
Valid on United via Houston
Purchase by October 8

Round-trip from Atlanta:
$553 Guayaquil, Ecuador — Gateway to the Galapagos Islands
A 7-day advance purchase required
A 5-night minimum stay required
Complete travel on or before December 15
Valid on American via Miami
Stopovers permitted
Round-trip rates from Miami are $423
The $553 rate is based on the most restrictive fare rule, or the ATL-MIA-ATL portion of the trip:
Valid Tuesday, Wednesday or Saturday
Add $10 per direction for other travel days
Blackout dates: November 19-December 1

Round-trip from Atlanta:
$892 Buenos Aires, Argentina
A 7-day advance purchase required
Travel any available day of the week
Stay at least any three nights
Complete travel on or before December 10
Valid on Delta, nonstop
Purchase by October 4

Hilton Head Offer
As part of Marriott’s Fall Break-Away Event, the Hilton Head Marriott Resort & Spa offers a $25 resort credit for each night of stay between October 1 and November 22. The resort has a prime oceanfront address with newly renovated guest rooms with private balconies. On site features include a fitness center, indoor and outdoor pools, a spa, three American-style restaurants and a beachside bar. The property is also connected to world-class tennis courts and three oceanfront golf courses: Arthur Hills Golf Course, George Fazio Golf Course and Robert Trent Jones Oceanfront Course, which are all part of Palmetto Dunes Golf Club. Book before October 31 and refer to promo code ZX0. Rates from $149. AAA members will also receive an additional 5 percent discount upon booking.

WOW Cruise Sale
Plan a winter escape, next summer’s vacation and getaways throughout 2016 during Royal Caribbean’s WOW sale, running through September 30. Offers include:50 percent-off the second guest and 50 percent-reduced booking deposit – as low as $50 per reservation.
The savings apply to the entire Royal Caribbean fleet on sailings that begin on or after October 26 (excluding China departures).
All new individual bookings made during the sale will receive an onboard credit of up to $200 per stateroom depending on the length of the itinerary. Additionally, travelers who book a Christmas or New Year’s vacation with Royal Caribbean departing in December will receive an additional onboard credit for each stateroom of up to $400 depending on the length of the itinerary for a combined total of up to $600.

Travel e-Scapes is brought to you by Clara Bosonetto, Team Clark Travel Editor. Follow Clara on Twitter.